Aerosol dispensing apparatus



Sept. 26, 1961 e. L. MAISON EI'AL 3,001,524

AEROSOL DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 26, 1961 ca. 1.. MAISON ETAL 3,001,524

AEROSOL DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if 64* if United States Patent This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application, Serial No. 572,965, filed March 21, 1956, and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to an aerosol dispensing apparatus which is particularly suitable for dispensing and administering measured amounts of a medicamentcontaining aerosol for inhalation therapy.

A great amount of previous effort has been directed to provide suitable means for dispensing and administering therapeutic agents or medicaments for inhalation therapy. The devices of these prior efiorts sufier from one or more serious shortcomings. In most cases the prior art has relied upon cumbersome mechanical devices which employ a rubber airbulb to aspirate a solution containing a medicament. These devices are often cumbersome; inconvenient, frangible and expensive. Some devices replace the rubber airbulb with a source of a compressed air or oxygen. This latter expedient has the serious limitation of requiring that the medicament be administered in close proximity to a cylinder of the compressed air or oxygen, usually in a doctors oflice or hospital. At best the amount or" medicament dispensed by the prior art devices is not readily controlled, leading to the administration of erratic, unmeasured doses of medicament. In a case where the medicament being administered to the patient is highly active, potent or somewhat toxic, the excessive amounts which may be administered may result in an unwantedresponse on the part of the patient. a

The shortcomings of the prior, art devices are discussed in ascientific article of Dr. George F. Harsh entitled, A Comparative Study of Commercial Nebulizers, which appeared in Annals of Allergy, vol. 6, pp. 534- 546 (1948). As pointed out in this article, not only was the physical dispersion ofthe spray or mist produced by the prior art devices unsatisfactory and erratic, but, as stated on page 537, a single compression of a rubber airbulb in different devices might deliver from 0.4 mg. to 13.0 mg. of a medicament-containing solution. With the less eflicient prior art devices many chronic asthmatics were found to develop thick callouses on their hands from the, repeated squeezing of the rubber airbulb required to obtain relief. Obviously, such devices leave much to be desired.

For these reasons, as well as others, the benefits of inhalation therapy have not been fully realized and progress in this mode of medication has lagged.

By means of the present invention the medical profession ,is provided with a convenient, inexpensive apparatuswhich is suitable for dispensing and administering in aerosol form measured, constant amounts of a medicament without requiring any substantial labor on the part of the user or a separate source of compressed air or oxygen. This apparatus may be transported in the pocket or purse of the user and the medicament rapidly self-administered and inhaled by the patient with- .out inconveniencing or afieoting others nearby. This apparatus employs self-propelling, medicament-containing compositions containing a liquefied, propellant gas as the means of discharging the medicant in aerosol form. The apparatus of the invention further provides that the aerosol of the medicament as inhaled by the patient shall be substantially free of unvaporized liquid propellant which might cause irritation of the delicate mucous membranes of the nasal and oral passages. This is an important advantage of the apparatus of the invention.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art devices intended for inhalation therapy.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved, convenient apparatus which will produce in aerosol form suitable for inhalation therapy measured, constant amounts of a medicament, without requiring any substantial amount of work on the part of the user or any external source of a propellant gas, and the ejected dose and the fineness of nebulization are fixed and do not depend upon the force exerted by the patients fingers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved, convenient apparatus by which a patient may self-administer by inhalation a measured, constant amount of a medicament in aerosol form which is dry or substantially dry and tree from win-vaporized, liquid particles of propellant.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved, convenient apparatus for administering a medicament in which the medicament remains uncontaminated, stable, protected against spillage throughout the entire period of its use, and is never exposed to light, heat or air before it is administered.

It is another object of the invention to provide a convenient apparatus for administering a medicament by inhalation therapy which may be carried in the pocket or purse of theuser and which provides a means of covering the container in which the self-propelling medicamentcontainining composition is stored.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an apparatus suitable for inhalation therapy that is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient for its purpose.

The above enumerated objects, as well as other objects, together with the advantages of the invention, will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art upon reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, which describe and illustrate two preferred forms of apparatus in. accordance with the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the combination of one preferred form of an applicator member and an aerosol dispenser embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the combination of the applicator member and an aerosol dispenser shown in FIG. 1 looking into the mouth of the applicator member and with the aerosol dispenser member partially shown in section;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the combination shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the applicator member and the aerosol dispenser separated from each other;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section of the combination of the applicator member, and an aerosol dispenser taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 With the dispenser in the normal or closed position;

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 4 but with the dispenser valve in the down or open position to dispense a measured amount of aerosol;

FIG. 6 describes a construction in which the plastic insert of the applicator member shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is locked into place;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the combination of another preferred form of an applicator member and an aerosol dispenser embodying the invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the combination of the applicator member and an aerosol dispenser shown in FIG. 7 looking into the mouth of the applicator member and with the aerosol dispenser member partially shown in section;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the combination of the applicator member and aerosol dispenser shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 with the applicator member and aerosol dispenser in an inverted position at the time of use;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the combination shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 with the applicator member and the aerosol dispenser separated from each other;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section of the combination of the applicator member and an aerosol dispenser taken along the line 11-11 of FIG, 8 with the dispenser in the normal orjclosed position;

FIG. 12-is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 11 but with the dispenser valve in the down or open position to dispense a measured amount of aerosol.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the aerosol dispensing apparatus includes an applicator member 38 or 58 and an aerosol dispensing bottle or container 10. his contemplated that these two components may be separated from each other as shown in FIGS. 3 and 10 and dismantled into these two basic components when packaged for transportation and sale or when carried in the pocket or purse of the user. In such case a protective cap (not shown) is desirably placed over the top of the dispensing container 10 to protect the protruding valve nozzle at the top of the container. Alternately, the barrel or delivery tube 32 or 59 may be capped over the dispensing container 10* to protect the protruding valve noz'zle. In this situation a protective cap is desirably placed over the cylindrical portion or skirt 37 or 60. V

One preferred form of the dispensing container 10 has a valve housing or shell 11 mounted in the mouth of the container. said valve shell may be made of any rigid, impervious and corrosive-resistant material, but stainless steel is very suitable. The shell 11 has an aperture 13- at the bottom 12 of the shell at one of its ends. The other end of the shell has an enlarged shoulder 11a leading to an enlarged mouth adapted to receive a gasket 18 of rubber or other resilient material. The housing is mounted in the metal closure or collar 19 which seals the container containing a medicament-containing, self-propelling liquid and is crimped at 35 to hold the housing rigidly in position and to provide a seal over the bead 36 of the mouth of the'co ntainer. This construction serves to both mount the housing in the container and to secure the closure to the mouth of the container. Also assisting in positioning the housing and providing an airtight seal to the closed container is a large resilient or rubber disk 19a which surrounds the housing and which is positioned between the closure 19 and the neck of the container.

The gasket 18 is provided with a substantially cylindri. cal aperture through which a valve plunger 20 of cylindrical configuration projects upwardly through the gasket and the closure wall. The plunger is a unitary member formed of a solid rod provided with a hollow cylindrical portion 24 and adapted to be slidably mounted in the cylindrical aperture of the gasket '18 and pass through the top of the closure. The'cylindrical aperture of the gasket is of such diameterthat it frictionally engages the outer walls of the hollow cylindrical portion 2 4 of the valve plunger 20 and yet provides substantially airtight seal although readily permitting the plunger to be longitudinally moved therethrough from the closed position of the plunger shown in FIGS. 4 and L1 to the discharge position shown in FIGS. 5 and 12.

The valve plunger 20 has desirably positioned below the hollow cylindrical portion 24 an enlarged portion or shoulder 17 extending outwardly from the plunger so as to engage the surface of the gasket 18 which faces inward. As shown, the shoulder is of such dimension larger than the cylindrical aperture of the gasket that when the plunger is in the closed position the gasket will be pressed between the shoulder and the top of the metal closure to produce a secondary seal. Below the shoulder the plunger is provided with a recess 21 which registers with the aperture 13 at the bottom 12 of the shell. The aperture 13 and the cylindrical aperture through the gasket 18 are in axial alignment so as to position the valve plunger in a non-tilting position and to limit the plunger to substantially longitudinal movement. This further prevents leakage between the cylindrical aperture of the gasket and the cylindrical portion of the plunger.

'In order to press the valve plunger into the normally closed position, a spring 16 is positioned within the shell 11 so as to press the shoulder 17 against the gasket 18 and close the system.

The plunger 26* is further equipped with a lateral opening 23 which is in communication with the hollow cylin drical portion 24 at the upper end of the plunger. The lateral opening is so positioned (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 12 with the plunger in the open position) that when the plunger is depressed to the position Where the lateral opening 23 is in communication with the interior of the valve shell 11, fluid under pressure within the shell passes through the lateral passage into the hollow'cylinder 24 of the top of the plunger and out of the dispensing con tainer member. v 7

Measured amounts of fluid under pressure are delivered by means of a second valve means coordinated with the first valve means provided by the lateral opening 23. This second valve means is made up, according 'to one embodiment of the invention illustrated by the drawings, of a second sealing gasket 14 of rubber or other'resilient material positioned in the bottom 12 of the shell 11 and held in place by a rigid washer 15 of steel or other rigid material which is in turn pressed toward the bottom of the shell'by the spring 16. The second sealing gasket 14 and the rigid washer 15 each have a communicating bore or aperture through them through which'the' plunger 20 passes. The recess 21 of the valve plunger is in registration wth the sealing gasket 14 when the plunger is in the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and '11. In this position the fluid passes through the channel provided by the 'recess in the plunger to within the space defined by the shell 11. When the valve plunger is depressed to the open position, as shown by FIGS. 5 and 12, the recess in the plunger moves downward outside the shell so that it no longer registers with the sealing gasket '14. The cylindrical portion of the plunger which is then in registration with the gasket provides a substantially airtight seal with the gasket and prevents further flow of the fluid into the shell. At the same time the lateral opening 23 of the plunger moves below the rubber gasket 18 into communication with the inner confines of the shell 11 thus permitting the fluid within the shell to escape through the lateral opening 26 into the hollow 'delivery cylinder or opening 24 of the plunger and out of the dispensing container. When the valve plunger is released the spring 16 forces it to return to -the'*closed position and the space within the Valve shell is refilled with a fresh supply of fluid through recess 21 and the process repeated. a

It will be apparent that the volume of fluid discharged during each depression of the plunger 20 will be dependent primarily upon' the volume within the-shell ,11 and the gasket 18. The measured and'constantaniount of fluid is discharged each time. By determining the volume within the valve shell a desired constant quantity of medicament may be discharged by dissolving the medicament in a suitable amount of propellent fluid held under pressure.

The valve shell 11 may be fitted with a dip-tube 22, desirably of flexible material such as nylon. The liquid within the container as shown in FIG. 2 is forced up the dip-tube, which desirably extends almost to the bottom of the container, by means ofthe pressure exterted on the liquid by the gaseous fluid above the liquid.

The dip-tube is not an essential part of the apparatus of the inventionand it may be omitted as shown in FIG. 8, in which case the dispensing container must be inverted at the time of discharge as shown in FIG. 9 so that the liquid will be brought into contact with the bottom of the valve shell 12. The omission of the diptube may be in some instances preferred since there is a possibility that vapor may become entrapped in the diptube during changes in position or shaking of the dispensing container while being transported or carried in the pocket or purse of the user. This may .result in delivery of an irregular and reduced amount of liquid into the valve shell. In severe cases; several priming movements of the valveplungerma-y be necessary to remove such vapor traps from the dip-tube. If the diptube does not reach to the bottom of the container, residual amounts of liquid may be lost since they can not be forced into the valve shell. Thus omission of the dip-tube may reduce the waste of residual quantities of liquid in the container. 3

An important and essential component of the apparatus of the invention is the applicator member 38 or 58. Described in conjunction with. the several figures of the drawings are two preferred embodiments of the applicator member. One embodiment is described in conjunction with FIGS. 16 and the other in conjunction with FIGS. 7-l2.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment of. the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6 of the drawings, the applicator member 38 has a base 25 which has one cylindrical portion or skirt 37 having an inner wall 25a which has a diameter slightly larger than that of the closure 19 at the point of its largest diameter so that it will provide a slidable' engagement between the two surfaces. Within the cylindrical portion 37 there is provided a seat 26 to engage and accommodate the extended portion of the valve plunger 20. Adjacent to the seat is a channel 27 which communicates with the hollow portion 24 of the plunger which is in turn in communication with chamber 28 into which a plastic insert 29 suitably of nylon is frictionally fitted. A portion of the walls of chamber 28 are extended as shown at 31 to provide a seat for the plastic insert. The plastic insert is provided with an orifice 30 having an extremely small diameter of close tolerances. This is an important advantage provided by the plastic insert since it would not otherwise be practical to provide an orifice of precise diameter such as is required to produce a spray of extremely fine particle size.

If desired the plastic insert 29 may be locked in the base'of the applicator member by means of a lip 39 as shown in FIG. 6.

The orifice 30' opens into a hollow cylindrical tube 32 equipped with lateral air inlet openings 33 and 34 at the top and bottom of the cylindrical tube at the end adjacent the base 25 of the applicator member. The air inlet openings permit aspiration of air into the hollow cylin ing certain prescribed dimensions. For example, the

and may not conveniently fit into the mouth of the user.

The orifice 30 of the nylon insert 29 through which the propellant composition is introduced into the cylindrical tube is desirably of extremely fine and precise diameter between mm in". and in. .At the pressures preferred for the dispensing container (in the order of about 25 to 60 pounds per square inch gauge) a smaller orifice produces aerosolization at too slow a rate. A

larger orifice will produce a spray containing a large number of particles of unvaporized propellant. Also the aerosol ejected through the orifice is not directed to the center of the cylindrical delivery tube and a significant amount of medicament may be deposited on the walls of the tube. Desirably the bore of the plastic insert is of uniform diameter throughout as shown in drawing. This assists in directing the aerosol along the longitudinal axis of the delivery tube and minimizes deposition of medicainent on the walls. 1 j

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention described in conjunction with FIGS. 7-12 of the drawings, the applicator 58 has a base 6'1jwhich has one cylindrical portion or skirt 60 having an inner wall 62 which has a diameter substantially larger than that of the closure 19 at the point of its. largest diameter so as to provide an air passage 63 to permit the aspiration of air into the hollow delivery tube 59. The air passage 63 is desirably large enough to permit a sufficient volume of air to sweep into the delivery tube andflush the medicament-containing aerosol into the mouth of the user. i

Within the cylindrical portion 70 there is provided a seat 63a to'engage the extended portion of the valve plunger 20. Adjacent to the seat is a channel 64 which communicates with the hollow portion 24 of the plunger which is in communicationwith nozzle or orifice 65 having a small diameter to produce a spray of extremely fine particle size, which orifice leads into an enlarged flared opening 66. The orifice 65 and the flared opening 66 open into a hollow cylindrical delivery tube 59.

In order to obtain the optimum results which this second preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention is capable of providing, the applicator member 58 and its component parts are desirably produced in sizes having certain dimensions. For example, the hollow cylindrical tube 59 is desirably of a length of about one inch.

The delivery tube 59 is desirably of a diameter or cross-section of from /2 to 1% inches. Narrower tubes may result in significant amounts of medicament depositing on the walls and unvaporized droplets of propellant reaching the mouth of the user. Wider tubes are cumbersome and may not conveniently fit into the mouthof the user. j I V The orifice 65 through which the propellant composition is introduced into the cylindrical tube is desirably of a diameter of about 0.02 inch. At the pressures preferred for the dispensing container (in the order of about 25 to 60 pounds per square inch gauge) employing aselfpropelling aerosol suspension a smallerorifice produces aerosolization at too slow a rate. A larger orifice will produce a spray containing a large number of particles of unvaporized propellant. Also the aerosol ejected through the orifice is not directed to the center of the cylindrical delivery tube and a significant amount of medicament may be deposited on the walls of the tube.

One of the advantages of thesecond preferred embodiment of the invention described in conjunction with FIGS.

convenience of storage in the purse or pocket of the user.

Another advantage is that it permits more rapid delivery of aerosol to the patient. It has a larger discharge orifice :which does not require the use of a separate nylon insert having a small orifice restricted to fine tolerances.

The embodimentsjhaving the skirt 37 or 60 are preferred since the skirt has the additional function of safeguarding against tilting and bending of the valve stem 20 when "attaching the applicator member to the aerosol dispenser and when depressing the applicator to operate the apparatus. a

i In the operation of the appar'tus of the present invention for inhalation therapy, the applicator member and aerosol dispensing container 'member (charged with medicament-containing propellant fluid) are assembled.

The lips of the user are placedclosely around the open end of the hollow cylindrical delivery tube 32 or 59. The base 25 or 61 of the applicator is depressed firmly which causes a measured dose of aerosol containing the medicament to discharge through the narrow orifice 30 or 65 into the hollow cylindrical delivery tube 32 or 59. The user simultaneously inhales through the delivery tube, aspirating air through inlets 33 and 34 or the air passage .63 which scavenges the medicament-containing aerosol through the delivery tube into the mouth of the user. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the container and applicator member are used in the inverted position since the container does not employ a dip-tube.

As has been mentioned above, the applicator member is animportant component of the apparatus of the present invention. It provides a convenient base for depressing the valve plunger of the container which releases the measured constant amount of fluid. It provides the requisite space for the vaporization of the propellant. It also serves asa conduit to channel the aerosol form of the medicament directly to the mouth of the user when the open end of the hollow cylindrical tube 32 or 59 is placed in the mouth of the user. Thus substantially none of the medicament is lost into the atmosphere and the user can be sure that a constant dose of medicament has been administered which is substantially free of unliquefied propellant.

The applicator component provides another important function. As the aerosol form ofthe medicament leaves the hollow portion 24 of the plunger it may contain a substantial number of unvaporized, liquid particles of propellant. If these liquid particles of propellant were permitted to strike the delicate mucous membranes of the nose or mouth they might cause an unpleasant taste or other sensory response or cause irritation. The rapid evaporation of these liquid particles of propellant may also cause discomfort to the mucous membranes because-of the resulting chilling.

' 'By interposing the hollow cylinder of the applicator between the narrow orifice of the plunger and the mouth of the user, as contemplated by the present invention, any unvaporized, liquid propellant particles are given an additional space through which they must travel before reaching the user. In traveling through this space, substantially all of the propellant liquid particles are vaporized, thereby eliminating any undesirable reaction which might be caused by liquid particles of propellant reaching the delicate mucous membranes of the user.

The applicator member may be made of one of a number of synthetic resins or plastics which are reasonably rigid. For example, plastics such as polymethylmethacrylate (Lucite), cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate-butyrate, and polyethylene, etc., may be employed. v

The container may be made of different types of material, depending primarily upon the size of the container and'pressure generated on the ,walls by the liquefied propellant, 'Desirably'c'olored or actinic-lig'ht excluding glass or materials may be used to protect lightsenfiitive medicaments. Itis preferred "that the material be transparent so as to be able to observe when the contents are nearly exhausted. For smaller sizes of containers, glass of suitable wall thickness may be employed with the outer wall coated with a resinous or plastic film which prevents shattering of the glass'if the container is dropped. For larger sizes metal containers, such as those of steel, are most suitable.

While various medicament-containing, self-propelling compositions may be employed with the aerosol dis pensing and administering apparatus of this invention, best results are obtained by'em'ploying a composition in which the medicament is dissolved in a non-toxic, liquefied fiuorinated or fluorochlorinated lower alkane containing notmore than 2 carbon atoms and which possesses a boiling point of less than 75 F. at 760 pressure and a vapor pressure of between about 25 and pounds per square inch gauge at F., and preferably about 30 and 40 pounds per square inch gauge. These liquid propellants are well known and are sold under the trademark Freon.

The medicament may be dissolved in the liquefied propellant by means of a co-solvent which is chemically inert to the medicament and which has the property of being a solvent for the medicament and which is. itself soluble in the-liquefied propellant. These medicamentcontaining, internally-contained propellant or self-propelling compositionsare discussed more fully in our copending application, Serial No. 572,788 filed March 21, 1956, now Patent No. 2,868,691. Another type of selfpropelling composition is the suspension type disclosed in the application of Charles G. Thiel, et al., Serial No. 637,353, filed January 31, 1957 and now abandoned. The suspension type compositions are particularly suitable for use with the preferred embodiment of the invention described in FIGS. 7-12 of the drawings. expressly intended to incorporate into this application It is tions. For example, the hollow cylindrical delivery tube 32 or 59 of the adapter member may be curved or it may be made up of one or more sections which may be separated. A curved tube is not preferred inasmuch as the medicament-containing aerosol which is discharged from the orifice 30 or 65 will be more likely to impinge upon the walls of the tube and deposit significant portions of the medicament. Also the two air inlet openings 33 and 3 4 may be replaced by a number of smaller perforations in the walls of the hollow cylindrical tube 32 adjacent the orifice 30.

In the case of medicaments which have a wide latitude of posology, the applicator member may be employed with a dispensing container having a control valve member which does not provide for the discharge of metered amounts of medicament.

The terms and expressions employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended, in the use of such terms and expressions, to exclude any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A device suitable for use in combination with an aerosol dispensing container equipped with a metering valve means and charged with a medicament containing, self-propelling liquid composition, which comprises in combination an aerosol dispensing container charged with a medicament-containing, self-propelling liquid'composition and equipped with metering valve, and a means for actuating said metering valve means and a delivery tube member so shaped and so proportioned as to conform to an oral ,cavity of the-user, and capable of administering into a body cavity a measured dose of medicament in aerosol form substantially free of droplets of unvaporized, liquid propellant to accomplish inhalation therapy, said actuating means being equipped with air inlet means between it and said dispensing container permitting scavenging of the medicament-containing aerosol from the tube into the body cavity of the user, said delivery tube member being ofsubstantially straight longitudinal axis and of sufficient length to deliver a dose of medicament substantially free of unvaporized liquid propellant while preventing substantial loss of medicamentcontaining aerosol, said device being small enough to transport in the pocket of the user, said container and said actuating means being usable in detachable engagement with each other.

2. A dispensing and administering apparatus suitable for use with a medicament-containing, self-propelling liquid composition for inhalation ther py, comprising in combination an aerosol dispensing container equipped with a control valve means and charged with a medicament-containing, self-propelling liquid composition, said valve means having an operating member having a discharge opening, and an applicator means comprising an actuating means and a delivery tube member, said actuating means being capable of actuating said operating member and having a seat which engages said operating member, said seat having a channel communicating with 7 said discharge opening and said delivery tube member and terminating at the end adjacent said delivery tube member through a narrow orifice, said delivery tube member extending forwardly from said actuating means and providing an unobstructed passage for the aerosol which forms upon discharge of the medicament-containing, self-propelling liquid composition through said discharge means and said channel, said delivery tube means having a substantially straight longitudinal axis, said applicator means having air inlet means proximate to said actuating means, said delivery tube member being capable of administering into a body cavity a dose of medicament in aerosol form to accomplish inhalation therapy without substantial loss of medicament-containing aerosol to the surrounding atmosphere.

3. A dispensing and administering apparatus suitable for use with a medicament-containing, self-propelling liquid composition for inhalation therapy, comprising in combination an aerosol dispensing container equipped with a control valve means and charged with a medicament-containing, self-propelling liquid composition, said valve means having an operating member having a discharge opening, and an applicator means comprising an actuating means and a delivery tube member, said actuating means being capable of actuating said operating member and having a seat which engages said operating member, said seat having a channel communicating with said discharge opening and said delivery tube member and terminating at the end adjacent said delivery tube member through a narrow orifice, said delivery tube member extending forwardly from said actuating means and providing an unobstructed passage for the aerosol which forms upon discharge of the medicament-containing, selfpropelling liquid composition through said discharge means and said channel, said delivery tube means having a substantially straight longitudinal axis, said applicator means having air inlet means proximate to said actuating means, said delivery tube member being capable of administering into a body cavity a dose of medicament in aerosol form to accomplish inhalation therapy without substantial loss of medicament-containing aerosol to the surrounding atmosphere; said apparatus being small enough to transport in the pocket of the user; and said aerosol dispensing container and said applicator means being usable in detachable slidable engagement with each other.

4. A dispensing and administering apparatus suitable for use ,with a medicament-containing, self-propelling liquid composition, for inhalation therapy, comprising in combination an aerosol dispensing container equipped with a control valve means and charged with a medicament-containing, self-propelling liquid composition, said valve means having an operating member having a discharge opening, and an applicator means comprising an actuating means and a delivery tube member, said actuating means being capable of actuating said operating member and having a seat which engages said operating memher, said seat having a channel communicating with said discharge opening and said delivery tube member and terminating at the end adjacent said delivery tube member through a narrow orifice, said narrow orifice opening into said delivery tube member at the end of said delivery tube adjacent said actuating means, said delivery tube member extending forwardly from said actuating means and providing an unobstructed passage for the aerosol which forms upon discharge of the medicamentcontaining, self-propelling liquid composition through said discharge means and said channel, said delivery tube means having a substantially straight longitudinal axis, said applicator means having air inlet means proximate to said actuating means, said delivery tube member being capable of administering into a body cavity a dose of medicament in aerosol form to accomplish inhalation therapy without substantial loss of medicament-containing aerosol to the surrounding atmosphere; said apparatus being small enough to transport in the pocket of the user; said aerosol dispensing container and said applicator means being usable in detachable slidable engagement with each other; and said actuating means actuating said operating member of said control valve by a reciprocating action.

5. A dispensing and administering apparatus suitable for use with a medicament-containing, self-propelling liquid composition for inhalation therapy, comprising in combination a container provided with a metering valve means and charged with a medicament-containing, selfpr-opelling liquid composition, and an applicator means so shaped and so proportioned as to conform to an oral cavity of a user and comprising means capable of actuating said metering valve means and slidably engaging with said container, a delivery tube means capable of administering a measured dose of medicament in aerosol form into a body cavity of the user, and an orifice communieating into said delivery tube means having an extremely fine diameter capable of producing a medicament-cont-aining aerosol when a medicament-containing, selfpropellent liquid is passed through said orifice under pressure, said delivery tube means having air inlet means at the end adjacent to the valve actuating means and being of substantially straight longitudinal axis and of sufficient length and diameter to deliver a dose of medicament sub stantially free of unvaporized, liquid propellent while preventing substantial loss of medicament-containing aerosol into the surrounding atmosphere, said apparatus being small enough to transport in the pocket of the user, said container and said applicator being usable in detachable engagement with each other.

6. A dispensing and administering apparatus suitable for use with a medicament-containing, self-propelling liquid composition for inhalation therapy, comprising in combination a container provided with a metering valve means and charged with a medicament-containing, selfpropelling liquid composition, and an applicator means so shaped and so proportioned as to conform to an oral cavity of a user and comprising means capable of actuating said metering valve means and slidably engaging with said container, at delivery tube means capable of actuating said metering valve and administering a measured dose of medicament in aerosol form into a body cavity of the user, and an orifice in communication with said metering valve means and passing into said delivery tube means having an extremely fine diameter capable of produeing a medicament-containing aerosol when a medicament-containing, 'self-propellent liquid is passed through said orifice under pressure, said delivery tube means having air inlet means at the end adjacent to the valve actuating means and being of substantially straight longitudinal axis and of suflicient-length and diameter to deliver a dose of medicament substantially free of unvaporized, liquid propellent while preventing substantial loss of medicamenbcontaining aerosol into the surrounding atmosphere, said apparatus being'sm'all enough to trans- References Cited in file of this patent i V UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,202,701 Lehmann May 28, 1940 2,205,785 Benner June 25, 1940 2,721,010 Meshberg Oct. 18, 1955 2,788,784 Birch et a1. Apr. 16, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,001,524 September 26 1961 George Louis Maison et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column "2, line 3, for "medicant" read medicament --*3 column 5, line 1Q for. "exterted" read exerted column '7, lines 42 and 43, for "unliquefied" read unvaporized Signed andl sealed this 3rd day of April 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

